Resealable plastic sealing container

ABSTRACT

A resealable plastic sealing container is constructed to include a container body, the container body having a coupling flange of substantially Π-shaped cross-section extended around a top opening thereof, and a cover adapted to seal the top opening of the container body, the cover having a peripheral coupling flange of substantially Π-shaped cross-section for press-mounting onto the coupling flange of the container body, and a layer of non-toxic glue covered on the inner surface of the coupling flange and adapted to seal the coupling flange of the cover to the coupling flange of the container body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a plastic sealing container and,more particularly, to a resealable plastic sealing container.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Vacuum-molded plastic containers are commonly made in the form ofa box, cup, or bowl for use to keep food. When carrying fluid,jelly-like, or liquid food in a plastic container, the container must besealed, preventing a leak of the contained food. FIG. 1 shows a cup-likeplastic food container 1 according to the prior art. The cup-likeplastic food container 1 comprises a cup body 11 holding a fluid food12, and a film covering 13 of aluminum foil or plastic film sealed tothe top open side of the cup body 11. When opened the film covering 13,the film covering 13 cannot be sealed to the cup body 11 again. FIG. 2illustrates another structure of plastic food container 2 according tothe prior art. According to this design, the plastic food container 2comprises a cup body 21, and a cover 22 sealed to the top open side ofthe cup body 21. The cup body 21 has a coupling flange 211 extendedaround the top opening. The cover 22 has a peripheral coupling flange221 coupled to the coupling flange 211 of the cup body 21. If theplastic food container 2 is used to hold a fluid or liquid food, thecoupling flanges 211;221 must be sealed by a heat press or the like.When sealed, the user must use a scissors or cutter means to open thecover 22. When the cover 22 opened, it cannot be sealed to the cup body21 again.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention has been accomplished under thecircumstances. It is therefore the main object of the present inventionto provide a resealable plastic sealing container that can be sealedagain to keep preserved food fresh when opened. It is another object ofthe present invention to provide a resealable plastic sealing container,which can be made in any of a variety of shapes or sizes to keep any ofa variety of foods in fresh. To achieve these and other objects of thepresent invention, the resealable plastic sealing container comprises acontainer body, and a cover adapted to seal the top opening of thecontainer body. The container body has a coupling flange ofsubstantially Π-shaped cross-section extended around the top openingthereof. The cover has a peripheral coupling flange of substantiallyΠ-shaped cross-section for press-mounting onto the coupling flange ofthe container body, and a layer of non-toxic glue covered on the innersurface of the coupling flange and adapted to seal the coupling flangeof the cover to the coupling flange of the container body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 illustrates a food container constructed according to theprior art.

[0007]FIG. 2 illustrates another structure of food container accordingto the prior art.

[0008]FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a resealable plastic sealingcontainer according to the present invention.

[0009]FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of part (4) of FIG. 3.

[0010]FIG. 5 is an exploded view, partially cutaway, of an alternateform of the resealable plastic sealing container according to thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0011] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a plastic sealing container 3 isshown comprised of a container body 31 molded from plastics, and a cover32 molded from plastics and adapted for sealing the top open side of thecontainer body 31.

[0012] The main features of the resealable plastic sealing container 3is outlined hereinafter. The container body 31 has a coupling flange 311of substantially Π-shaped cross-section extended around the top openingthereof. The cover 32 has a peripheral coupling flange 321 ofsubstantially Π-shaped cross-section for press-mounting onto thecoupling flange 311 of the container body 31, and a layer of non-toxicglue 33 covered on the inner surface of the coupling flange 331. Whenthe cover 32 covered on the container body 31, a downward pressure isemployed to the coupling flange 321 of the cover 32 against the couplingflange 311 of the container body 31, thereby causing the coupling flange311 of the container body 31 to be bonded to the coupling flange 321 ofthe cover 32 by the glue 33, and therefore the food stuffed in thecontainer body 31 is sealed and kept in fresh against externalcontaminations.

[0013] The employed glue 33 is not a high power adhesive. When insertingthe finger into the gap 34 between the coupling flange 321 of the cover32 and the coupling flange 311 of the container body 31, the cover 32can easily be separated from the container body 31 with the hand withoutthe use of any tools. Further, after opening of the cover 32 at thefirst time, the cover 32 can be sealed to the container body 31 again byemploying a downward pressure to the coupling flange 321 of the cover 32against the coupling flange 311 of the container body 31 by hand, i.e.,the glue 33 is effective for enabling the cover 32 to be opened andclosed for several times.

[0014] Normally, applying the glue 33 to the horizontal middle part ofthe inner surface of the Π-shaped cross-section of the coupling flange321 of the cover 32 is sufficient for enabling the cover 32 to be sealedto the coupling flange 311 of the container body 31. For a strictsealing requirement, it is necessary to apply the glue 33 to thehorizontal middle part as well as the two opposite vertical side partsof the inner surface of the Π-shaped cross-section of the couplingflange 321 of the cover 32 (see FIG. 4). Further, when employing adownward pressure to the coupling flange 321 of the cover 32 against thecoupling flange 311 of the container body 31 by, for example, a press,the press may be heated to about 150° for several seconds to enhance thesealing effect.

[0015] The layer of non-toxic glue 33 preferably has the thickness ofabout 0.02 mm˜0.07 mm. This thickness meets the food grade sealingrequirement.

[0016]FIG. 5 shows an alternate form of the present invention. Accordingto this alternate form, the releasable plastic sealing container 3′ is arectangular box comprised of a container (box) body 31 and the cover 32for sealing the top opening of the container body 31. The arrangement ofthe coupling flanges 311;321 and the non-toxic glue 32 is same as theaforesaid first embodiment of the present invention.

[0017] A vacuum-molding machine can make the container body 31 and thecover 32 of the plastic sealing container 3 or 3′.

[0018] A prototype of resealable plastic sealing container has beenconstructed with the features of the annexed drawings of FIGS. 3˜5. Theplastic sealing container functions smoothly to provide all of thefeatures discussed earlier.

[0019] Although a particular embodiment of the invention has beendescribed in detail for purposes of illustration, various modificationsand enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited exceptas by the appended claims.

What the invention claimed is:
 1. A resealable plastic sealing containercomprising a container body having a top opening, and a cover adapted toseal the top opening of said container body, wherein said container bodyhas a coupling flange of substantially Π-shaped cross-section extendedaround said top opening thereof; said cover has a peripheral couplingflange for press-mounting onto the coupling flange of said containerbody, the coupling flange of said cover has a substantially Π-shapedcross-section, the Π-shaped cross-section of the coupling flange of saidcover having an inner surface, and a layer of non-toxic glue covered onthe inner surface of said coupling flange and adapted to seal thecoupling flange of said cover to the coupling flange of said containerbody.
 2. The resealable plastic sealing container as claimed in claim 1,wherein said non-toxic glue is applied to a horizontal middle part ofthe inner surface of the Π-shaped cross-section of the coupling flangeof said cover.
 3. The resealable plastic sealing container as claimed inclaim 1, wherein said non-toxic glue is applied to a horizontal middlepart and two opposite vertical side parts of the inner surface of theΠ-shaped cross-section of the coupling flange of said cover.
 4. Theresealable plastic sealing container as claimed in claim 2, wherein saidcover and said container are vacuum-molded from plastics.
 5. Theresealable plastic sealing container as claimed in claim 3, wherein saidcover and said container are vacuum-molded from plastics.
 6. Theresealable plastic sealing container as claimed in claim 4, wherein thethickness of said layer of non-toxic glue is about 0.02 mm˜0.07 mm. 7.The resealable plastic sealing container as claimed in claim 5, whereinthe thickness of said layer of non-toxic glue is about 0.02 mm˜0.07 mm.